Hoping to allow humanities and design students to learn about urban design, Cornell will launch seminars about contemporary cities for undergraduate and graduate students in Fall 2013.

As Kent Kleinman, dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, looks forward to beginning his second term in 2013, he said he will continue guiding AAP students in addressing pertinent challenges related to the fields of urbanization and technology. 

After just 66.7 percent of the students entering the College of Architecture, Art and Planning in 2003 graduated — the lowest rate for all colleges that year — AAP took several measures to improve its graduation rate. 

With an $11 million gift from Lisa Baker and Richard Baker ’88, Cornell’s real estate program will hire additional faculty and create a more robust curriculum in an effort to become one of the nation’s top-tier programs, according to John Siliciano ’75, senior vice provost for academic affairs.

Last weekend, about 800 faculty, staff, students and alumni of the University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning gathered for Celebrate Milstein Hall, an event featuring lectures, exhibitions and performances by AAP alumni and faculty.

As architecture graduates nationwide struggle with low employment rates, the University’s Department of Architecture has taken steps to ensure that its alumni are armed with a diverse skill set for an increasingly challenging job market. 

Brian Beeners, tech shop supervisor in AAP, has been offered a reduced job after his layoff prompted outrage from students in the College of Architecture, Art and Planning.

In response to student protests, Dean of the College of Architecture, Art and Planning Kent Kleinman said he will consider rehiring Brian Beeners, an AAP tech shop supervisor who Kleinman laid off Thursday.

A month after receiving a letter from students concerned about a lack of support for minority students within the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, Dean Kent Kleinman has appointed a Rei Thompson to focus on minority and diversity issues.